04 May 2005

Weekend what-nots

May 1 is Labor Day in the Philippines, and is a non-working holiday. Labor Day is especially significant to the working sector because it is at this time that many organizations and activists hold protest rallies with the goal of bringing to attention such pressing issues as taxes, increasing utility and service charges, and wage adjustments.

In the Northern region called Pangasinan, May 1 is also the Fiesta ng Dagat (Feast of the Sea), which is celebrated with boat races and a day of fun and sun.

This is a Sunday, but a Presidential Decree has made May 2 also a non-working day.

Personally, May 1 is a day where we get time off from work, and I usually spend such times at home. The searing midday sun is enough to make me stay put and play video games or watch TV.

But this weekend was quite different. Our neighborhood has gotten into the fiesta habit, and has strung colorful whatchamacallits above the streets. Sorry I don't know what these are called (sheepish grin). Apparently there is a contest for the best and most colorful street, so there. The fiesta is next weekend. In my 7 years' stay in our place, this is the first time I've seen more than one street dress up for the occasion. There are also announcements for singing contests. Yup, that's Filipino for you. Singing is part of life, much like basketball.

Then yesterday, we played Uno Stacko. It's a game which makes you pile blocks upon blocks until it collapses, with rules in the block sequence. It was fun; we played for a couple of hours, then proceeded to watch TV. It's too hot to move around much, so we simply had a laid-back afternoon and ate our halo-halo.


  1. they are called banderitas, sir.
    uno stacko is a great game. i bought a set for my kids when they were younger. ipinamigay na nila sa younger cousins nila.

  2. yap banderitas or buntings that's your "whatchamacallits" called.
    fiestas make me think of food...a lot of it!

  3. Ah ok! I remember my friends saying they were called banderitas but I never paid attention. :-)

    Mga bata pa kami sa bahay :-)

    Hello Amie! Are we obligated to prepare food for this fiesta? It's way much better to visit other houses!

  4. Anonymous5:54 pm

    I think they're called banderitas.

    Anyway, wow it's been awhile since I've been to a fiesta. :) Have fun!

  5. I'd ask for you to invite the gang over to your place for the fiesta but knowing how we got lost the last time (thanks to your instructions), I'd rather not :)

    I just got a set of Uno Stacko for my birthday last month from the Cartoon Network people. Don't know why they gave me a set but I'm not complaining. :)

  6. uy! paborito ko kainin yan pag summer...yung uno stacko!

  7. Hi Toni. Why do I get the feeling I'm the only one who doesn't know what they're called?

    Hi Cherry! You know who to call now to ask for directions :-)

    Chu! Lagyan mo peanut butter!

  8. Ummm. Halo Halo. The closest I have come to the taste of eating halo halo here in America is eating a bowl of Fruity Pebbles cereal with icy cold milk... only not quite as tasty.

  9. yap!visit other houses para makikain...that's what i'm talking about! :p

  10. Hello Mr. Abbey! I saw this article in the papers last year about the wife of an ambassador who had tostay in Philippines because her husband was assigned here temporarily. She was in panic mode because of the not-so-good things she has been hearing about the country.

    When it was time for them to leave, she felt sad because she got to know a lot of friendly people, and there she was, reminiscing while holding on to her halo-halo. :-)

    Hi Amie! If ever we have to prepare food, I'll just order take out (pancit, puto, barbecue). :-)

  11. watson, 'ba naman? banderitas lang, hindi pa alam? pinoy ka ba? ha? eheheh..

    actually,i just found out bandEritas pala iyon. kala ko bandAritas. duuuuh?

  12. Hi Cherry! Amateur cook lang po ako :-)

    Hi Dessagirl! Streamers nga sana ang ilalagay kong pangalan eh.

  13. Hi Nick, matagal din ako nadistino sa Dagupan, Fiesta ti Dagat was the best for me, Boneless Bangus from Binalonan. mangga, kamatis and bagoong from ohh, how i missed them....

  14. i mean sa Bonoan mas marami, pero me suki kami sa Binalonan super sarap ang bangus, meron secret na timpla sa suka, bawang at paminta...

  15. Hello techguy! Bonuan Bangus ang dinedeliver rin sa Baguio, at masarap talaga ang bangus na galing dun. Minsan nga, may mga bisita ako sa Baguio at nagluto kami ng sinigang na bangus. Natigilan sila nang nalasahan nila yung bangus. Ang sarap daw!


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